Upload files using SFTP

Although you can use any SFTP/SCP client to transfer files to your server, this guide documents FileZilla (Windows, Linux and Mac OS X), WinSCP (Windows) and Cyberduck (Mac OS X).

Using an SSH Key

Once you have your server’s SSH key, choose your preferred application and follow the steps below to connect to the server using SFTP.

FileZilla

IMPORTANT: To use FileZilla, your server private key should be in PPK format.

Follow these steps:

Download and install FileZilla.

Launch FileZilla and use the “Edit -> Settings” command to bring up FileZilla’s configuration settings.

Within the “Connection -> SFTP” section, use the “Add keyfile” command to select the private key file for the server. FileZilla will use this private key to log in to the server.

Use the “File -> Site Manager -> New Site” command to bring up the FileZilla Site Manager, where you can set up a connection to your server.

Enter your server host name and specify bitnami as the user name.

Select “SFTP” as the protocol and “Ask for password” as the logon type.

Use the “Connect” button to connect to the server and begin an SFTP session. You might need to accept the server key, by clicking “Yes” or “OK” to proceed.

You should now be logged into the /home/bitnami directory on the server. You can now transfer files by dragging and dropping them from the local server window to the remote server window.

If you have problems accessing your server, get extra information by use the “Edit -> Settings -> Debug” menu to activate FileZilla’s debug log.

WinSCP

IMPORTANT: To use WinSCP, your server private key should be in PPK format.

Follow these steps:

Download and install WinSCP.

Launch WinSCP and in the “Session” panel, select “SCP” as the file protocol.

Enter your server host name and specify bitnami as the user name.

Click the “Advanced…” button and within the “SSH -> Authentication -> Authentication parameters” section, select the private key file for the server. WinSCP will use this private key to log in to the server.

From the “Session” panel, use the “Login” button to connect to the server and begin an SCP session.

You should now be logged into the /home/bitnami directory on the server. You can now transfer files by dragging and dropping them from the local server window to the remote server window.

If you need to upload files to a location where the user doesn’t have write permissions, you have two options:

Once you have configured WinSCP as described above, click the “Advanced…” button and within the “Environment -> Shell” panel, select sudo su - as your shell. This will allow you to upload files using the administrator account.

Upload the files to the /home/bitnami directory as usual. Then, connect via SSH and move the files to the desired location with the sudo command, as shown below. Replace the FILENAME placeholder with the actual name of the file being moved.

$ sudo mv /home/bitnami/FILENAME /path/to/desired/location/

Cyberduck

IMPORTANT: To use Cyberduck, your server private key should be in PEM format.

Follow these steps:

Select the “Open Connection” command and specify “SFTP” as the connection protocol.

In the connection details panel, under the “More Options” section, enable the “Use Public Key Authentication” option and specify the path to the private key file for the server.

Use the “Connect” button to connect to the server and begin an SFTP session.

You should now be logged into the /home/bitnami directory on the server. You can now transfer files by dragging and dropping them from the local server window to the remote server window.

Using a Password

Once you have your server’s SSH credentials, choose your preferred application and follow the steps below to connect to the server using SFTP.

FileZilla

Follow these steps:

Download and install FileZilla.

Launch FileZilla and use the “File -> Site Manager -> New Site” command to bring up the FileZilla Site Manager, where you can set up a connection to your server.

Enter your server host name.

Select “SFTP” as the protocol and “Ask for password” as the logon type. Use bitnami as the server username and the password generated during the server deployment process.

Use the “Connect” button to connect to the server and begin an SFTP session. You might need to accept the server key, by clicking “Yes” or “OK” to proceed.

You should now be logged into the /home/bitnami directory on the server. You can now transfer files by dragging and dropping them from the local server window to the remote server window.

If you have problems accessing your server, get extra information by use the “Edit -> Settings -> Debug” menu to activate FileZilla’s debug log.

WinSCP

Follow these steps:

Download and install WinSCP.

Launch WinSCP and in the “Session” panel, select “SCP” as the file protocol.

Enter your server host name and set bitnami as the server username. Enter the corresponding password as well.

From the “Session” panel, use the “Login” button to connect to the server and begin an SCP session.

You should now be logged into the /home/bitnami directory on the server. You can now transfer files by dragging and dropping them from the local server window to the remote server window.

If you need to upload files to a location where the user doesn’t have write permissions, you have two options:

Once you have configured WinSCP as described above, click the “Advanced…” button and within the “Environment -> Shell” panel, select sudo su - as your shell. This will allow you to upload files using the administrator account.

Upload the files to the /home/bitnami directory as usual. Then, connect via SSH and move the files to the desired location with the sudo command, as shown below. Replace the FILENAME placeholder with the actual name of the file being moved.

$ sudo mv /home/bitnami/FILENAME /path/to/desired/location/

Cyberduck

Follow these steps:

Select the “Open Connection” command and specify “SFTP” as the connection protocol.

In the connection details panel, enter the server IP address, bitnami as the username, and the password generated during the deployment process.

Use the “Connect” button to connect to the server and begin an SFTP session.

You should now be logged into the /home/bitnami directory on the server. You can now transfer files by dragging and dropping them from the local server window to the remote server window.